Permutation lock



May 30, 1939. kl-i. HERBST f PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Feb. 24, 193e Patented May 30, 1939 parrafo stares PATE crier.

Application February 24, 1936, Serial No. 65,511 In Germany February 25, 1935 6 Claims.

Permutation locks, in which locking elements with recesses or notches for locking or releasing a spring pressed operating slide and with pins on both sides of said locking elements, said pins and locking elements being interchangeable and carried in an open bed plate locked by a comblike slotted cover plate, are a part of the prior art.

The present invention relates to a permutation lock, in which the cylindrical bodies of the locking elements at the same time serve as bearing members and are half embedded in an open bearing.

This form of construction has the advantage compared with former locks of this kind that the locking elements can be made without pins and that they are at the same time, in consequence of the increased bearing surface, reliably guided in the open bearing, the general design of the lock being hereby also simplified. The cylindrical construction of the locking elements also makes it possible to connect these in such manner with the holder springs, that the latter automatically return the locking elements to their initial position, thereby doing away with the heretofore necessary separate devices, such as push bolts and the like.

In the accompanying drawing, like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several views, and:

Figure 1 illustrates a vertical longitudinal section through one form of the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates a fragmentary section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 illustrates a plan View of the invention with the cover plate being shown in broken lines and the top of the housing omitted, the end and side walls of the housing being shown in section;

Figure 4 illustrates a fragmentary detail section similar to Fig. 2 but showing one modification of the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates a detail side view of the locking or permutation member shown in Fig. 4;

Figure 6 illustrates a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a second modification of the invention;

Figure 'l illustrates a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing a third modification of the invention; and

Figure 8 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the third modification, the view being partly in section and with certain parts omitted as in Fig. 3.

The cylindrical locking elements a of suitable width, provided with small handles or levers,

are embedded to half their circumference in the open bed plate b, below which the operating slide c glides, said slide being provided with tooth-like projections or pins 01 corresponding with recesses or notches a1 of the locking elements 5- a. These notches are arranged in known manner either in the central line of the locking elements or to the right or left of this central line.. These notches must be in line with each other when operating slide c is shifted and the lock opened. Detents c2 engage with suitable recesses in the shackle e. Said detents are xedly connected with slide c, which latter is suitably guided, for instance, in the bed plate b. The shackle or similar locking member e is either loosely inserted l5 and guided in the lock housing d or connected to the housing in any other suitable manner, according to the sphere of employment of the lock. In the form of construction here shown the lock is intended for use as a padlock.

By means of the small lever or handle of the locking elements, which protrude through housing d, each locking element can be individually shifted. 'I'he housing d has its top provided with a wide slot or opening d through which the members a may be removed for changing the permutation arrangement. A cover plate k (Fig. 2) is provided above the cylindrical bodies of the locking elements, so that these are normally held against bodily displacement. Said cover plate k can be removed for the purpose of exposing the locking elements only when the operating slide c is in the open position; in the lock position said cover plate 7c is held back by stops h fixed to and movable with detents c2. The plate lc extends through a slot at one upper side edge of the housing and has an upturned portion lc which may be engaged for moving the plate laterally out from the housing. The plate lc is provided with lugs k2, on the edge opposite to the portion lc', this being what may be termed the inner edge. Notches are formed in these lugs and the members h engage in these notches when the device is locked and thus hold the plate k from outwardly sliding movement unless the device is unlocked, whereupon the plate may, if desired, be slid out to uncover the members a and thus permit their removal and transposition. The plate lc is further provided with slots 764 to permit rocking movement of the members a and also to permit sliding movement of the plate 1c.

The holder springs f can engage or be connected with the locking elements a in various manner. In the usual form of construction, shown in Fig. 2, springs f engage in lateral notches f on opposite sides of the cylindrical locking elements a. In the examples illustrated in Figs. 4 to 8 the cylindrical part of the locking elements a is provided with suitable shoulder-like surfaces on both sides of the small handle or lever. In the form of construction according to Fig. 4, the shoulders a2 are each provided with a small central recess a3 formed in at least one of the shoulders, the recess corresponding with a projection or bend f2 formed in the spring f3, causes the shifted locking element to automatically snap back into the initial position. In the form of construction according to Fig. 6 the concave form of vthe shoulder a4 fulls the same purpose. If the springs f4 are arranged on the underside of cover plate lc, as shown in Fig. 6, the locking elements will be released from spring pressure when cover plate k is removed, so that they can be easily withdrawn and interchanged. By this means the necessity for a separate erection device for the locking elements is eliminated, the return of said elements to their initial, that is, erect, position being automatically effected by springs f4. It will be obvious that the smalllevers or handles of the locking elements which are shifted must be held in the shifted position during the manipulation, that is, opening or shutting, of the lock.

In the form of construction according to Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 (section and plan view) the springs f5 are fixed to a small fulcrumed axis f6. By means of spring m springs ,f5 are pressed against the shoulder surfaces f locking elements a. When cover plate lc is withdrawn, a projection 'n on this cover plate abuts against pin o of shaft f6, thereby rotating the same and removing springs f from the locking elements, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7; the locking elements are then free to be removed and interchanged.

As shown in Fig. 3, operating slide c is arranged between two springs pand 1' of differing pressure, said springs being opposed to each other in action. Spring r is the stronger of the two and is adapted to keep the slide permanently in the lock position. In order now to open the lock, the initiated person will set the lock elements a in such manner that the recesses or notches al of these elements are in line. Hereupon the button or handle s is pushed in, thus counteracting the pressure of spring r against slide c so that the latter will, under pressure from the weaker spring p, move into the open position, thus disengaging detent c2 from the shackle e. The lock is now open. Operating slide c is thus independent of outside action and an opening of the lock by uninitiated persons is made impossible, because the locking elements are in no Way accessible to outside pressure through the medium of slide c.

It Yis obvious that the essential idea of this invention may be incorporated in variousiforms of locks and that the outer form or shape of the lock or arrangement of the several essential elements may be otherwise than here described, without departing from the main idea of said invention. For instance, instead of the linear arrangement of the locking elements shown in the accompanying drawing, these elements may be arranged around the circumference of a disc or ring, so that the locl: assumes more or less the form of a cylinder.

What I claim as my invention, is:

1` In a permutation lock, a housing provided with an open slot, a seriesof locking elements each including a short cylindrical member and an operating finger, bed plate means fixed in said housing and provided with a series of spaced oppositely curved Walls forming recesses into which peripheral portions ofV said locking elements closely fit, said elements being each provided with a longitudinally extending notch in its periphery, an operating slide slidably mounted in said housing and provided with projections engaging end faces of the locking elements in locked position and movable through the notches upon the locking elements being rotated to aline the notches with the projections, said fingers projecting through the slot to enable the locking elements to be oscillated, a shackle having an end provided with a notch and projecting into the housing in locked position, a latch lug on the slide engaging in the notch to hold the shackle in locked position, removable means to hold the locking elements in said recesses, shoulders on the ends of said locking elements, and leaf springs bearing on said shoulders.

2. In a permutationl lock, a housing provided with an open slot, a series of locking elements each including a short cylindricalmember and an operating finger, bed plate means fixed in said housing and provided with a series of spacedop positely curved walls forming recesses into which peripheral portions of said locking elements closely t, said elements being each provided with a longitudinally extending notch in its periphery, an operating slide slidably mounted in said housing and provided with' projections engaging end faces of the locking elements in locked position and movable through the notches upon the locking elements being rotated to aline the notches with the projections, said fingers projecting through the slot toA enable the locking elements to be oscillated, a shackle having an end provided with a notch and projecting into the housing in locked position, a latch lug on the slide engaging in the notch to hold the shackle in locked position, removable means to hold the locking elements in said recesses, shoulders on the ends of said locking elements, and leaf springs bearing cn said shoulders, said shoulders each having a centrally disposed notch and the springs having bent portions normally fitting the `shoulder notches.

3. In a permutation lock, a housing provided with an open slot, a series of locking elements each including a short cylindrical member and an operating finger, bed plate means fixed in said housing and provided with a series of spaced oppositely curved walls forming recesses into which peripheral portions of said locking'elements closely t, said elements being each provided with a longitudinally extending notch in its periphery, an operating slide slidably mounted in said housing and provided with projections engaging end faces of the locking elements in locked position and movable lthrough thenotches upon the locking elements being rotated to aline the notches with the projections,A said fingers projecting through the slot to enable the locking elements to be oscillated, a shackle having an end provided with a notch and projecting into the housing in locked position, a` latch lug on the slide engaging inthe notch to hold the shackle in lockedv position, removable means to hold the locking elements in saidV recesses, :shouldersA on the ends of saidV locking elements, and leaf springs bearing on said shoulderssaid springs being anchoredon said removable means whereby when said means is removed, saidsprings are'disengaged'fromsaid shoulders.

4. In a permutation lock, a housing provided with an open slot, a series of locking elements each including a short cylindrical member and an operating finger, bed plate means fixed in said housing and provided with a series of spaced oppositely curved Walls forming recesses into Which peripheral portions of said locking elements closely t, said elements being each provided with a longitudinally extending notch in its periphery, an operating slide slidably mounted-in said housing and provided With projections engaging end faces o1" the locking elements in locked position and movable through the notches upon the locking elements being rotated to aline the notches with the projections, said ngers projecting through the slot to enable the locking elements to be oscillated, a shackle having an end provided with a notch and projecting into the housing in locked position, a latch lug on the slide engaging in the notch to hold the shackle in locked position, removable means to hold the locking elements in said recesses, shoulders on the ends of said locking elements, leaf springs bearing on said shoulders, a shaft journalled in said housing and having said springs anchored thereto, an arm on said shaft to rock the same, and a lug on said removable means engaging the arm on the shaft to rock the latter and free the springs from the shoulders.

5. In a permutation lock, an operating slide, a bed plate having open bearings, cylindrical locking elements partially rotatable in the bearings and having notches extending longitudinally of their peripheries, retaining springs engaging the notches -for holding the locking elements in their initial position after being'shifted, two opposed springs of different pressure effects engaging opposite ends of the operating slide, a push member for operating the more powerful of the springs to render it inactive so that the operating slide moves into open position under the action of the weaker spring, and shackle engaging elements carried by the operating slide.

6. In a permutation lock, an operating slide, a bed plate having cylindrical locking elements partially rotatable thereon and each having a detent-receiving notch extending longitudinally of its periphery, the said operating slide being movable transversely of the locking elements and having spaced detents adapted to occupy the aforesaid notches and the spaces between the locking elements respectively, springs for holding the locking elements in one position of adjustment, two opposed springs of different pressure effects engaging opposite ends of the operating slide, a push member for operating the more powerful of the springs to render it inactive so that the operating slide moves into open position under the action of the weaker spring, and shackle engaging elements carried by the operating slide.

HANS HERBST. 

